A Thermoresponsive, Electrically Conductive Bioink Optimized for Electroactive Tissue Engineering and Bioelectronics.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Bioelectronics

Background:

• Developing multifunctional bioinks with thermoresponsive behavior, electrical conductivity, printability, and biocompatibility is crucial for advanced 3D constructs.
• Existing bioinks often struggle to integrate all these essential properties simultaneously, limiting their application in physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate and evaluate novel bioinks integrating thermoresponsive behavior, electrical conductivity, printability, and biocompatibility.
• To systematically assess hydrogel formulations for optimal performance in 3D construct fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Systematic formulation and evaluation of 12 hydrogel compositions using agarose, gelatin, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS).
• Rheological analysis for shear-thinning properties, print fidelity assessment, and electrical conductivity measurements.
• Cell viability assays (A549 cells) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for structural analysis.

Main Results:

• A formulation with 2% agarose, 4% gelatin, 2% HPC, and 0.1% PEDOT:PSS demonstrated optimal balance of properties.
• Achieved high electrical conductivity (0.5757 S/m) without compromising mechanical properties or biocompatibility.
• 3D-printed structures exhibited suitable porosity for cell infiltration and molecule transport, with high cell viability.

Conclusions:

• A reproducible framework for creating multifunctional conductive bioinks was established.
• The developed bioink successfully integrates thermoresponsive behavior, printability, electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility.
• This advancement supports rapid translation into tissue engineering, biosensing, and bioelectronic applications.